iPad Mini Features, Release Date & Price Announced

The iPad Mini is real, it’s on the way soon and it includes a 7.9-inch display and 4G LTE connectivity.

Apple announced the smaller iPad Mini at a special event in San Jose today, highlighting the portability of the new iPad Mini.

The iPad Mini uses a 7.9-inch display, offering a smaller overall size that should fit in purses and large pockets better than the company’s 9.7-inch iPad that dominates the tablet market. The iPad Mini is 23% thinner than the New iPad, as thin as a pencil.

The iPad Mini fits in one hand.

Apple announced the iPad Mini price starting at $329 for the WiFI only 16GB model, up to $529 for the 64G WiFi only model. The iPad Mini WiFi plus cellular starts at $459 for the 16GB model.

The iPad Mini is smaller thanks to a 7.9-inch display with the same resolution as the iPad 2. This means users are looking at a 4:3 aspect ratio like the current iPad line. Users should expect most current iPad apps to run on the iPad Mini without the need for an update. Unfortunately users will be looking at letterboxing while watching HD video on the iPad Mini.

The iPad Mini is thin, as thin as a pencil according to Apple.

Apple is able to keep the iPad Mini compact with narrow bezels on the side of the display, much like the new iPod Touch. The iPad Mini uses the new Lightning connector that debuted with the iPhone 5. The smaller adapter can connect in either direction and now supports HDMI out, VGA out and camera connectivity with accessories.

The iPad Mini uses the lightning connector on the right.

The iPad Mini includes an Apple A5X dual-core processor, which isn’t as fast as the iPhone 5, but it is still capable of running most iPad apps and supports AirPlay Mirroring to an Apple TV.

Like the New iPad and the iPhone 5, the iPad Mini includes 4G LTE connectivity on AT&T and Verizon. The iPad Mini is an attractive mobile companion thanks to the smaller size and the ability to download apps, movies and Webpages 10 times faster than 3G.

Apple claims the iPad Mini battery lasts 10 hours on a single charge, on par with the new iPad 4th generation.. Apple devices are usually capable of meeting claimed battery life once in use in the real world.